SUBSCRIBE:
Colleagues who want to subscribe can do so for free here online.

NOTE: Make sure you enable images to see this e-bulletin properly.

DAN LE SAC AT THE GREAT ESCAPE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS TALKING, SO WHY AREN'T MORE MUSICIANS LISTENING?
For three days last week, The Great Escape took over Brighton, with over 30 venues playing host to more than 350 bands. There is also, of course, the music industry convention part of the event, programmed by the team at CMU Insights. An opportunity to hear key figures in the industry discuss where we're heading and how the future of the music business will affect everyone in it. Producer Dan Le Sac asks why more artists don't join him in watching themmore>>

APPROVED: EYE EMMA JEDI
When a friend suggested, on the final night of The Great Escape, that we go and see a band called Eye Emma Jedi, I'll admit I wasn't immediately enthusiastic about the idea. But you shouldn't judge a band by their name - an unusual name is just one you haven't had time to get used to yet, after all. Maybe one day Eye Emma Jedi will be as unremarkable to say out loud as Arcade Fire or Foo Fighters. I hope so, because it turns out that Eye Emma Jedi are very good indeed. Formed late last year by Alexander Pavelich and Andrew Murray, the pair quickly began work on their debut album in the Spanish countryside more>>

NUCLEAR BLAST - PROMOTIONS MANAGER
London office for well-established rock/metal label is looking for a dynamic and experienced Promotions Manager to handle TV and Radio promotion for its rapidly diversifying roster. The ideal candidate should have at least two years experience in a similar role with existing contacts within the rock/metal media. Working in a fast-paced environment, organisation, communication and motivation are all key, as is a strong passion for rock/metal music.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

MUSIC CONCIERGE - MUSIC TEAM ASSISTANT
Music Concierge, the award-winning music consultancy for boutique hotels and luxury brands, is looking for a Music Team Assistant to join our small but expanding creative team. This is an excellent starter role giving the opportunity to work in the music industry with an exciting growing company.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

DHP GROUP - PROMOTER/VENUE PROGRAMMER
We are looking for a promoter based in Nottingham, who'll have specific responsibility for programming one of our award winning venues, as well as significant roles in our Dot To Dot festival and other activities. This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, creative, knowledgeable and hardworking individual to join one of the UK's fastest growing national promoters and venue operators, with ever expanding career possibilities.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

CODA - RECEPTIONIST
CODA requires a full time receptionist for immediate start within our busy and successful artist music agency based near Farringdon, London. We're looking for someone with excellent communication skills, friendly and motivated who is able to multi-task. We need a "can do" attitude. This is an excellent first step in to the live music industry.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

PARTISAN RECORDS - PRODUCT MANAGER
Partisan Records, part of Knitting Factory Group, is looking for a dynamic and forward thinking Product Manager to join the recently established UK office. The successful candidate will have at least two years product management experience and will be experienced in implementing multiple artist campaigns across traditional and digital marketing platforms.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

ELITE MUSIC MANAGEMENT - ASSISTANT BOOKING AGENT (ADMIN/PA TO DIRECTOR)
Since 1999, Brighton-based Elite Music Management has represented breakthrough and established DJs, producers and label parties. We are looking for a hard working, exceptionally organised individual to work as part of a small, hard-working team. You will be required to assist the Director with bookings, and the efficient day to day running of the office. You will liaise with artists, managers and promoters on a daily basis.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

CHERRY RED RECORDS - ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Cherry Red Records requires a full-time administrative assistant for immediate start in our West London office. Playing a key support role across several areas of the business the ideal candidate will be someone with a good working knowledge of, and interest in, catalogue music across several genres, self-motivated, with a keen attention to detail.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

MASCOT LABEL GROUP - LABEL/MARKETING MANAGER
Mascot Label Group, is looking for a dynamic and experienced UK label/marketing manager. Do you have solid experience in label management, marketing, retail, digital, and promotion and are you looking for a new challenge? Ambitious, hands on, creative, efficient, organised, hungry for success and an affinity with hard rock, metal and blues rock genres in particular is what we are looking for.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

DESK SPACE AVAILABLE IN HOXTON
We organise indoor and outdoor music & arts events and have two desks available for rent in our friendly and comfortable office. It's a great creative space located in Hoxton for anyone working in the creative industries (ie graphic designers, journalists, digital, marketing). Just five mins from Hoxton Station. The building is very secure and has 24 hour access. Rent is £250 a month plus VAT per desk which is inclusive of all bills and wi-fi.

GLOBAL TOLD TO SELL STATIONS IN SEVEN REGIONS TO GET GREEN LIGHT FOR REAL SMOOTH DEAL
So, it seems that the "irrefutable evidence" presented by Global Radio that supposedly demonstrated that it buying what was the Guardian Media Group's radio business would not have any impact on the local radio advertising market, was, in fact, highly refutable. In the eyes of the Competition Commission anyway.

The UK competition regulator has told Global that to get the all-clear to buy GMG's Smooth and Real Radio networks it must commit to sell stations, either its own or its new acquisitions, in seven markets. GMG Radio only operated in nine regions, and the forced divestiture is considerably more severe than the three stations Global said it would be willing to sell if it really had to in order to allay any competition fears.

The Commission has told Global that it must sell a station in the East Midlands, South Wales, North Wales, the North West, the North East, Yorkshire and Central Scotland. It will be allowed to keep its GMG acquisitions and all its current assets in London and the West Midlands.

It is not a good outcome for Global, and will likely make much of the group's plans for its newly extended station portfolio impractical. The radio firm could also lose money. In an relatively usual move, Global took complete ownership of what had been GMG Radio as soon as its deal with the Guardian Media Group was done, taking on all the risk of any negative outcome in the predictable Competition Commission investigation.

And aside from the substantial costs involved in navigating any competition regulation, most experts reckon Global won't be able to recoup anything like what it paid when selling on the GMG stations it is not allowed to keep.

The most obvious bidder is Bauer, but the Competition Commission ruling throws doubts on whether the number two radio owner in the UK would be allowed to acquire a GMG station in any region where it already operates either. And the other firm who bid when GMG first went on sale, UTV, was known to be offering substantially less for the stations.

Where a GMG licence has bigger reach than the licence already owned by Global in any one region, it could keep the former and sell the latter, at least upgrading the potential audience of its existing service, though that then means selling on a less attractive franchise.

Perhaps the most compelling route for Global now is to find a buyer that would be interested in acquiring a licence, but then operating it under one of Global's brands on a franchise basis. That way Global's quasi-national networks like Capital and Heart could continue to extend their reach, and the firm would be able to earn a licence fee from those operations. Though it would be interesting to see how long any franchisee could be locked into operating a Global brand.

Commenting on the Commission's ruling, one radio industry bod told The Guardian: "It is about as bad an outcome as they could have imagined. They would have spent millions on legal fees on top of the purchase price, they may be lucky to get half what they spent back".

Global now has a month to decide whether to take the Commission's decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

URIAH HEEP GUITARIST DIES
Veteran British guitarist Trevor Bolder, best known as a member of hard rock act Uriah Heep since the mid-1970s, has died after losing a battle with cancer. The 62 year old musician, who first gained prominence as a member of David Bowie's Spiders From Mars band in 1971, underwent treatment for pancreatic cancer earlier this year.

Confirming his passing, a statement on the Uriah Heep website says: "It is with great sadness that Uriah Heep announce the passing of our friend the amazing Trevor Bolder, who has passed away after his long fight with cancer. Trevor was an all-time great, one of the outstanding musicians of his generation, and one of the finest and most influential bass players that Britain ever produced".

Meanwhile the band's Mick Box said: "Trevor was a 'world class' bass player, singer and songwriter, and more importantly a world class friend. He will be sadly missed by family, friends and rock fans all over the world. We are all numb to the core".

And this morning Bowie added his own tribute, telling reporters: "Trevor was a wonderful musician and a major inspiration for whichever band he was working with. But he was foremostly a tremendous guy, a great man".

"I KNOW THIS STATEMENT IS NOT ACCURATE": JACKSON V AEG UPDATE
AEG Live did not conduct any background checks on Michael Jackson's chosen personal doctor Conrad Murray, the live firm's General Counsel told the LA court yesterday, even though the company's President Randy Phillips assured those concerned for the life of the late king of pop shortly before his death that the medic's assurances that all was OK should be accepted because "this doctor is extremely successful - we check everyone out".

Shawn Trell was the second AEG executive to take to the stand in the Jacksons v AEG Live court case. As much previously reported, the Jackson family claims that the live music giant should be held liable for Michael Jackson's untimely demise because it hired Murray, the doctor convicted for causing the singer's death through negligent treatment. AEG counters that while it may have paid Murray's bills, it didn't actually employ the negligent doc.

The status of Murray's business relationship with AEG is key to the case, and has been the main focus of court proceedings since executives from the company - legal guy Trell was preceded by finance exec Julie Hollander - started to be questioned.

For the Jacksons, AEG's budget spreadsheets are key here, because they listed the $150,000 a month being paid to Murray as a 'production expense', rather than as an 'advance' to Jackson with which he could pay the doctor, even though the live firm had earlier insisted Murray was paid by the singer direct with advances provided by the company. If Murray was a production expense, AEG arguably had more of an obligation to manage him.

Trell said that the listing of the monies that would pay Murray's fees as a production expense was simply a mistake, made by the firm's Chief Financial Officer, even though he was, said Trell, usually "a very detailed-oriented guy".

Trell also had to admit to making a mistake himself in an earlier part of his testimony this week. As part of the debate over the nature of Murray's relationship with the live firm, the Jackson family's legal team questioned Trell about the company's contractual agreement with Kenny Ortega, the director of the ill-fated AEG-promoted 'This Is It' show Jackson was preparing for at the time of his death.

Initially Trell told the court that Ortega did not actually have a formal contract with AEG for 'This Is It', rather the terms of the director's role on the project were agreed through a series of emails. But when returning to the witness stand yesterday Trell had to admit that he had got that wrong, and those emails had resulted in a more formal contract.

Back to the background checks, or lack thereof, into Murray when Jackson requested he be his personal medic for the duration of the 'This Is It' venture. Trell said that he wouldn't usually expect his company to investigate the people it hired to work on its projects, except where they may have a financial role.

While such a policy may seem careless - though possibly only with hindsight - it's arguably important to AEG that the company can demonstrate that it was wholly ignorant of the ways Murray was treating Jackson in 2009, and of why Jackson may have been motivated to hire the doctor in the first place (ie for a ready supply to the prescription medications he desired), and why Murray may have been prone to put ethics aside to prescribe such drugs (ie his dire financial situation and the money to be made by keeping Jackson on side).

After all, we know that various concerns were raised about Jackson's health in the weeks before his death by people working on 'This Is It' - some of whom appeared in court earlier this month during the second phase of testimonies to say so - and Ortega communicated those concerns to AEG management. And Trell himself conceded in court that he was aware of what 'This Is It' production staff were saying regarding Jackson's condition in June 2009.

But Phillips then met with Jackson and Murray, and accepted their assurances that all was fine. Doing so would have been negligent, except for his ignorance of just how much both men needed the 'This Is It' venture to succeed, and the lengths they were planning to go to in order to get Jackson on stage.

But why did Phillips, when reporting back to concerned members of the 'This Is It' production team, assure them that Murray's word that all was fine was credible, because "this doctor is extremely successful - we check everyone out - and he does not need this gig so he [is] totally unbiased and ethical".

That statement was a "flat out lie" the Jackson family's legal rep suggested when questioning Trell yesterday. According to CNN the AEG lawyer responded: "I know this statement is not accurate, but you'd have to speak with Mr Phillips about what he thought or meant in saying it".

The case continues. Meanwhile the Jackson family's legal team will be busy going through a load of emails belonging to Michael Jackson's on-again-off-again manager Frank DiLeo, who was managing the singer's affairs as the 'This Is It' venture got underway.

DiLeo died in August 2011, but the Jackson family have been keen to see his emails to ascertain what his relationship with AEG was like as the 'This Is It' project began, and whether he put pressure onto Murray to get Jackson on stage 'whatever it takes' and, if so, whether he did this after being put under pressure himself by AEG management.

DiLeo's widow, with AEG's support, initially tried to block access to the emails and, after a court ruled that the Jackson family should be able to see them, then claimed they had been lost. It then transpired that the DiLeo estate's former lawyer had a back up, but there were legal problems with him handing them over, until the manager's widow reappointed said lawyer, allowing him to share any correspondence relevant to the case.

It remains to be seen if any of those emails now prove key as the Jackson family further their arguments against AEG Live in court.

GEORGE MICHAEL REMAINS IN HOSPITAL FOLLOWING CAR ACCIDENT
George Michael is being kept in hospital by doctors to monitor head injuries he received in a car accident last week. It has now emerged that the singer, travelling as a passenger, apparently fell out of the car while being driven down the M1 at 70 miles per hour.

A spokesperson for Michael said yesterday: "I can confirm that George remains in hospital but purely as a standard precaution for observation because he suffered some bumps and cuts to his head. But he's making good progress, he's fine and he's really looking forward to getting home".

MANIC STREET PREACHERS WORKING ON TWO ALBUMS
The Manic Street Preachers are currently working on two albums, following up 2010's 'Postcards From A Young Man'.

Speaking to The Daily Star, frontman James Dean Bradfield said: "We've virtually finished the first, which is acoustic. There's only one song with electric guitar on the album, but it's not 'bongos round the campfire'".

That album will also feature some sort of contribution from Richard Hawley. The second album will apparently be "more aggressive and experimental".

DAFT PUNK MAY WORK ON MORE MUSIC WITH NILE RODGERS
Daft Punk's recent work with Nile Rodgers seems to have been quite successful for them so far, so perhaps it's of no surprise that the Chic guitarist thinks there might be a chance of further collaborations.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Rodgers said: "I recently found a treasure trove of old stuff I wrote years ago that's been hidden in a studio vault. It's unreleased material from the late 70s and early 80s, and it has to see the light of day - especially now I've met producers that I trust like Daft Punk. I already know they'd love to work on some of this music".

NEW KAYNE ALBUM MIGHT BE CALLED YEEZUS
There was a rumour a while ago that Kanye West's new album was to be called 'I Am A God'. But who would dare be so bold?

Well, Kanye West would - for one thing the first single from the album is expected to bare that title. But, it seems, West has gone for a different name for the LP itself, the slightly less (or possibly more) arrogant 'Yeezus'. Yes, a combination of his nickname Yeezy and God's supposed son Jesus.

The title was revealed in an Instagram post by West's girlfriend Kim Kardashian, in which she also confirmed, through the medium of hashtags, that 18 Jun is a significant date. Possibly the album's release date. Possibly the date of Kanye West's ascension to Heaven.

AT THE DRIVE-IN'S RELATIONSHIP OF COMMAND TO GET VINYL RE-RELEASE
If you missed out on the limited vinyl re-press of At The Drive-In's 'Relationship Of Command' album for Record Store Day this year, don't worry, Trangressive Records has announced a proper re-issue. The record will be back in twelve-inch form on 5 Aug.

MCFLY ANNOUNCE TENTH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS
It's ten years since McFly released their debut single, 'Five Colours In Her Hair'. Ten bloody years. And to celebrate, they're set to play two nights at the Royal Albert Hall in that London on 19 Sep and 20 Sep. Tickets for the shows will go on sale this Saturday at 9am sharp.

SONY MAY CONSIDER INVESTOR'S PROPOSALS TO SPIN OFF ENTERTAINMENT
According to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Sony Corp is now considering looking into the previously reported proposal by one of its key shareholders to sell a slice of the firm's US-based entertainments division.

There has been speculation for sometime that the Tokyo-based electronics and entertainment giant may sell off some or all of its music, film and television interests, most of which have generally being doing OK in recent years, in order to raise cash to help the flagging electronics side of the group stage a recovery. Though Sony top guard have in the main always denied such rumours.

But earlier this month, hedge funder Daniel Loeb, whose Third Point company now owns 6.5% of Sony Corp, put a plan to the firm's management to sell up to 20% of the Sony entertainment business, mainly to existing Sony Corp backers, in order to free up funds to help speed up the slow recovery of Sony Consumer Electronics.

Sony has so far refused to comment on Loeb's proposals or the new reports that they are actually being considered, though it does seem that even if some consideration is being give to investigating the Loeb plan, it's very much early days as yet.

UNIVERSAL DIGITAL CHIEF APPOINTED TO EXECUTIVE BOARD
Universal Music has announced the appointment of Rob Wells to its Executive Board. Wells, who has been with the mega-major for over a decade, rose out of the firm's UK division to lead the company's digital business, initially for Universal's non-US International division, and now at a Group level working out of Santa Monica. In those senior digital roles he has also become a high profile Universal exec, as the major strikes up deals with each new round of digital services.

Confirming Wells' appointment to his company's Executive Board, Universal top man Lucian Grainge told CMU: "[Rob's] promotion to the UMG Executive Board reflects not only the strength of his performance and his contributions to the company, but also the critical priority we place on - and significant opportunities we see for - our digital business. We congratulate Rob on his many achievements to date and know that he and his team will continue to deliver results in the months and years to come".

Wells added: "We are very excited to continue to drive UMG's industry-leading digital position in more and more creative ways than ever before".

LIVE NATION PROMOTES COO OF TICKETMASTER NORTH AMERICA
Live Nation has announced the appointment of Jared Smith to the role of President of the US side of its ticketing business Ticketmaster. Smith was previously COO of Ticketmaster North America, and will now oversee all of the unit's support, sales and marketing operations as well as strategic development.

Confirming the appointment, Live Nation boss man Michael Rapino told reporters: "Jared continues to be a transformational leader in Ticketmaster's evolution. His dedication to clients has consistently resulted in a greater than 100% net renewal rates and his innovative thinking has led to the creation of value-added services and products to better support them and the fans they serve".

NEXT INDEPENDENT LABEL MARKET DATE SET
So, it's been a month now since Record Store Day, and if you're longing for that chance to buy something a little bit special from your favourite artist or label, then get 13 Jul in your diary, because that is the date of the next London edition of the Independent Label Market, when the bosses of a plethora of indie labels line up at Spitalfields Markets to sell you their wares. And not only do some of those labels bring along extra special treats for selling, you also get to buy the records from the people who released them.

TULISA LEAVES X-FACTOR
Tulisa Contostavlos has confirmed that she will not appear on the next series of 'X-Factor'. The Sun announced that she was facing the chop, after two series on the show, back in February.

The singer said via Twitter yesterday: "Just wanted to let you all know that I won't be part of the 'X-Factor' panel this year. I've had a great time on the show, but this year it's time to do something different. I'd like to thank everyone on 'The X-Factor' for two amazing years. Stay tuned as I have a very exciting announcement soon!"

Sharon Osbourne is expected to be announced as her replacement in due course.

JUSTIN BIEBER'S MONKEY NO LONGER JUSTIN BIEBER'S MONKEY
A monkey given to Justin Bieber for his nineteenth birthday in the middle of his European tour, but confiscated by German officials after he failed to get the correct paperwork to take it into the country, has now been officially and permanently confiscated.

As previously reported, Bieber was given four weeks to return to collect the monkey, named Mally, back in March. His New York office later contacted the Munich animal shelter who had been caring for the monkey in the interim and asked that Mally be re-homed. But this did not address the considerable cost incurred in caring for the animal by that point. Bieber was given a new deadline of 17 May to give written confirmation that he didn't want his monkey back and to discuss plans to cover those costs.

Apparently that didn't happen either, but regardless, Mally is now officially no longer the property of JB. Spokeswoman for the animal shelter told Reuters: "The monkey belongs to Germany now. We hope that it will be [re-homed with a group of monkeys] as soon as possible because the monkey needs to be integrated soon - it is becoming really strange because it only knows people so it has not learned any proper social behaviour".

So well done Team Bieber. Still, the pop teen just wants to put all this behind him. Accepting the award for something or other at the Billboard Music Awards at the weekend, Bieber said: "I really just want to say, it really should be about the music. It should be about the craft that I'm making. This is not a gimmick - I'm an artist, and I should be taken seriously. And all this other bull should not be spoken of".

So, now you can see why he abandoned the monkey. Touring with an animal would clearly have looked like a gimmick and not at all becoming of a serious artist like our Justin.

CMU Editor Andy Malt and CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke are both available to comment on music and music business stories. Together they have provided comment and contributions to BBC News, BBC World, BBC Radios 4, 5, 6music and Scotland, Sky News, CNN, Wired and the Associated Press. Email andy@unlimitedmedia.co.uk or chris@unlimitedmedia.co.uk.

UnLimited Media also provides creative, training and consulting services for the music, media and communication industries. More at www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk.